Thankful

Thankful today for amazing friends, great roommates, and a summer of fun on Capitol Hill.  

Today is a day where I am simply wow'd with the people in my life and how lucky I am to have them here!  I lucked out with some of the greatest roommates ever, and ever lasting friends from high school who I cherish so deeply!  Three of my best friends from Mount de Sales came to DC last night to grab drinks.  Now we are all 21 we are able to go to happy hours and live like real people, something I know we've all been longing to do for quite some time.  It really is just amazing that we've found this bond and it hasn't broken.  Despite the time spent apart, our activities at different Universities, our studies, our goals and dreams and outlooks on life, we've been able to watch each other grow and hold on for the bumpy ride.  I think that's really special.  Whether its a new friend or the friends who've become family, treasure those moments that you learn about someone because it will most likely teach you a lot about yourself.  

I had a long week; I've been running myself a little thin.  I'm excited to put on my comfy clothes and lounge about my little row house tonight with my roomies!

Any fun plans this weekend?

xoHil

Memorial Day Weekend

I had such a wonderful, long weekend.  

I was surrounded by thought provoking people who wanted to talk about all the things I love; school, politics, family, what we want out of life, how we wanna change the world and more importantly how we see it now.  Being able to recognize how your perception of the world changes you and its ability to change is so vital to our growth and well being.

I spent my days walking about Eastern Market in Washington DC, getting lost in Capitol Hill books, and sipping DC Brau at The Silver Spork.  It was a mini market filled with olives, prosciutto, cheese, and crackers as well as assorted pastries and other specialty items like curry & homemade hummus.  A hidden machine sent out bubbles to kiss your plates and tips of your forks as you people watched.  If you live in the DC area and you haven't been to Eastern Market, you're foolish & you need to go!  The flea market area had THE BEST jewelry and I cannot wait to take my best friends there to shop.  Tortilla Cafe also has the best Salvadorian and Mexican food, ever..hands down.  I suggest whole heartedly the fresh tamales.

I live with 6 other college kids in a row house on Massachusetts Avenue & 3rd next to an abandoned Indian restaurant.  It's not too bad, all my roommates are Southern..like, real Southern.  Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.  I'm already starting to say, ya'll; I'm from the Mid-Atlantic..we say, "you guys."  Thank goodness I didn't pick up that habit before Denmark.  We have been spending our nights drinking wine and watching House of Cards which I LOVE.  A Netflix original series about the Congressional House Majority Whip staring Kevin Spacey.
People it's gold, pure gold.

I finished my first week of my Internship at ICMA - International City/County Management Association.  I'm the Knowledge Network Intern, answering questions and blogging on the local government online forum.  It's a new area for me, communications and social media.  I get to come up with media strategies for a non profit, much more freedom that most internships give.  I feel like I have real responsibilities and tasks that are expected of me with real thought and real input.  I was between two internships when I made my decision back in April but I wanted something that taught me more skills..I wanted to walk away from an internship that I had something to show for it.  At ICMA I have that ability and I'm so excited to push myself further and give it all I got.

Check out my blog post from last week that had the #localgov community chatting on twitter & be sure to follow @ICMA & @Greenlee_K for the latest updates on #localgov & #professionalmanagement.

I'm learning something new everyday at work and I love it.  My social media work has especially inspired me to teach myself even more.  Part of this blog is to document my journey as I learn code and redesign my website.  More on that tomorrow.

Hope 'Ya'll' had a great memorial day weekend with loved ones & friends.

xo Hil

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xo Hil

Hi

ello! 

I've dabbled with blogging in the past, but I was feeling the need to start over.  So here's my new blog, lots of deep thoughts about life and my attempt to write down all that makes up being 21.  

A bit about me, I'm a college student living in Washington, DC working on Capitol Hill in political management.  I have 1 year left at my small, liberal arts college on the cornfield laden Eastern Shore of Maryland before I'm thrown head first into the 'real world.'  I was lucky enough to spend 5 months living in the Kingdom of Denmark and study at the University of Copenhagen.

On May 23rd, 2013 I love coffee, Europe, traveling, exploring, photographs, typography, infographics, graphic design, web design, tumblr, sunshine, rain, dogs, baseball, higher education, public policy, community development, symbolism, politics, research, blogs, friends, books, pens, love letters, handshakes, jobs, water, running, architecture, gardens, twinkle lights, dancing, london, markets, ancients, girl scout cookies, bumper stickers, purses, airports, hugs, flags, church, classical literature, film, leonardo dicaprio, lacrosse, washington college, thesis research, professors, russia, new things, learning, cities, baltimore, company softball games, walks, peer mentoring, leadership, public speaking, teaching swim lessons, diving, exercising, avocados, salt and pepper, croissants, hazelnut macchiatos, pinterest, social media strategy, internships, capitol hill, american history, library books, coffee shops, shopping, georgetown, m street, urban outfitters, doughnuts, theatre, burmese food, ted talks, the college prepster, shoes, adoption, spreading love, making smiles, holding doors, thanking, welcoming, meeting, sunglasses, nalgene bottles, bookstores, ereaders, old bay, charleston, hilton head island, jewelry stores, dominoes pizza, highlighters, georgetown, roommates, laughing, smiling, puppies, parents, grandparents, coding, cuddling, yoga, leggings, bagels, curls, polka dots, seersucker, jolly ranchers, ranch dressing, spinach leaves, coca cola, toasted marsh mellow milkshakes, camp fires, cook outs, burgers, scavenger hunts, youtube, spotify, rain on windows, the sound of music, justin timberlake, dunkin donuts blueberry iced coffee, tall men, waking up to snow, moving, free food, salad, row houses, hills, happy people, sky lights, crown molding, dressing rooms, marshalls, sparkles, hunter green, social media, communications, marketing, progress, community service, nooks, union jacks, cork, wine, dancing music, singing in the car, historic areas, castles, nonpartisan groups, clothes out of the dryer, notebooks, monograms, royalty, grass, tribal prints, apple, black and white, expelling ignorance, french, borgen, danish parliament, love yous, golden doodles, lattes, the internet, great gatsby, early mornings, early nights, driving, radio, snuggles, happy days, porch swings, mason jars, blankets, weddings, babies, rome, mailbox, stockholm, new friends, old friends, stationery, early mornings

and flowers, purple ones to be exact.  

I like thinking and thinking deeply.  Hear me out.  

Hilary